Key Terms and Definitions Flashcards
Adult literacy
The percentage of the adult (16+) population who can read and write.
Afforestation
The planting of trees/vegetation.
Bilateral aid
Aid given by the government of one country to the government of another.
Biomes
Large ecosystems at the global scale where the climate and vegetation is uniform.
Biosphere
The regions of the earth and atmosphere where plants and animals live.
Climate change
The long term changes in out climate including temperature and precipitation.
Colonialism
The historical practice where countries, like Great Britain went and took over other countries, such as Kenya, occupying it with settlers and exploiting its raw materials.
Conserve
To prevent an environment being damaged by exploitation or to repair an environment that has already been damaged
Corruption
Dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power, typically involving bribery.
Debt
The money owed by a country or individual.
Decomposer
Animals/plants that break down dead plants and animal. They are very important for any ecosystem, as they provide essential nutrients.
Deforestation
The cutting down of trees/vegetation.
Desert
An area having annual precipitation of less than 250mm a year.
Desertification
When the climate of a dry region becomes even drier and vegetation is lost to soil erosion and the spread of the desert ecosystem.
Development gap
The difference in wealth between rich and poor countries.
Direct jobs
Jobs that are created directly due to an industry. E.g. in tourism, a hotel porter.
Economic recession
A period of decline during which some industrial activity closes, people have become unemployed and the negative multiplier effect occurs.
Ecosystem
A system of links between the plants and animals and the habitats where they live, including the non-living environment.
Ecotourism
A sustainable way to manage an ecosystem, by educating and limiting the amount of tourists that can go into an area, that still allow money/jobs to be created along with conservation.
Employment
Work for which some form of payment is given.
Employment structure
The number of people working in primary, secondary and tertiary sectors of the economy.
Exploit
To use the natural environment as a resource to make profit.
Exports
The movement of goods out of a country.
Extinction
The loss of something forever, e.g. animal species due to poor management.
Fair-trade
An organised movement that aims to help producers in developing countries to get a better deal for their goods.
Food chain
The transfer of energy through an ecosystem from primary producers to consumers and decomposers.
Formal work
Jobs that receive a regular wage, do regular hours and have a formally signed contract, E.g. a teacher, nurse, factory worker, farmer.
GDI
Gross Domestic Product - the value of all final goods and services made within the boarders of a country in a year. It is also known as GDP.
GNI
Gross National Product - the average income in a country. It is also known as GNP.
